Thiel says he doesn’t agree with every part of the party’s policy platform. But he says what he calls “fake culture wars” only distract Americans from economic issues.

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8:30 p.m.

A bipartisan group of national security experts is criticizing Donald Trump for suggesting the United States may reconsider NATO’s policy of defending its members against possible Russian aggression.

They’ve written an open letter to U.S. “friends and allies.” These experts call Trump’s comments “inflammatory” and say his remarks don’t “represent the interests of the United States.”

Among the 40 expert who signed on are former Sen. Carl Levin; former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and a retired Marine lieutenant general, John Castellaw.

Trump indicated in a New York Times interview that he may review the financial contributions of certain NATO members before acting under the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defense clause if they were attacked by Russia.

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8:10 p.m.

Chants of “All Lives Matter” are filling the arena at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Leading the chant is a pastor from South Carolina — Mark Burns. He says Donald Trump won’t “pander” to one race.

Burns also is calling on the GOP to listen to the problems of people in disenfranchised communities in the country. He says that more than anything, they want jobs.

The “All Lives Matter” chant is often used by conservatives to counter the Black Lives Matter movement, which has called attention to police violence against African-Americans.

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8:05 p.m.

The longtime and well-known sheriff of metropolitan Phoenix says his “most important mission” is just beginning: electing Donald Trump to the White House.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (ahr-PY’-oh) — a leading foe of illegal immigration — is praising Trump’s immigration policies and support for law enforcement.

Arpaio says Trump will “restore law and order” and put the interests of U.S. citizens first.

Just the mention of Trump’s proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border won cheers from the delegates at the Republican National Convention.

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6:50 p.m.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine has emerged as the leading contender to join the Democratic ticket as Hillary Clinton’s running mate.

That’s according to two Democrats, but they also caution that Clinton hasn’t made a final decision and could change direction.

The announcement of Clinton’s pick could come as early as Friday afternoon in Florida.

The timing is aimed at shifting attention away from the end of Donald Trump’s Republican convention and generating excitement before the start of Clinton’s own convention next week in Philadelphia.

The two Democrats also say Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is still in the mix.

The Democrats are familiar with the selection process and spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the search publicly.

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6 p.m.

There’s not a lot of love from the O’Jays about the use of their song “Love Train” during the Republican National Convention.

The R&B group says its hit — including a version remixed as “Trump Train” — is being used without the band’s consent.

Founding O’Jays members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams say in a statement they were asked to appear at the Cleveland convention. They say they turned down the offer, and they say Donald Trump’s candidacy is — in their words — “divisive and at odds with the overriding message of their song.”

Levert is making clear what he thinks about the GOP presidential nominee: “I think he just may be the anti-Christ.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers say they’re willing to be a part of the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

The campaign is crediting Trump’s new running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, for driving the contributions.

Pence delivered the keynote speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night.

Trump got off to a late start fundraising after largely self-funding his primary campaign.

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4:40 p.m.

A newspaper in the Italian town where Luciano Pavarotti (loo-chee-AH’-noh pah-vah-RAH’-tee) lived says the late tenor’s loved ones are unhappy that Donald Trump’s campaign has played one of his signature arias, Nessun Dorma.

The Gazzetta di Modena is quoting Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani Pavarotti, and other family members as saying the “values of brotherhood and solidarity” that Pavarotti expressed in his career “are incompatible with the world vision proposed” by Trump.

The Pavarotti family couldn’t immediately be reached by The Associated Press for confirmation or comment.

A pro-Hillary Clinton super political action committee is previewing a new “3 a.m. phone call” ad warning that Donald Trump is too dangerous to be president.

The ad starts with a picture of the White House at 3 a.m. The ads cuts to a red phone that’s ringing as Trump has “just zinged another loser” on Twitter. He then complains that someone should answer the ringing phone.

“Will someone get the damn phone?” a President Trump says. “Who is calling me at 3 a.m. anyway? Total loser.”

The spot mirrors an ad that Clinton ran in the Democratic primaries in 2008 against Barack Obama.

The new ad from Priorities USA Action PAC will start running in August.